Kaoru Mitoma Left Out of Japan World Cup Squad After Hamstring Injury

Japan suffered a significant setback ahead of the FIFA World Cup after winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out of the tournament because of injury, with coach Hajime Moriyasu confirming the decision while announcing the squad in Tokyo on Friday. The 28-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves last weekend, forcing the national team’s medical staff to conclude that he would not recover in time for the competition.

Mitoma’s absence is considered a major blow to Japan’s hopes of progressing beyond the Round of 16 for the first time in World Cup history. The winger has emerged as one of the country’s most influential attacking players in recent years and played a decisive role in several high-profile matches. He scored the winner in Japan’s 1-0 friendly victory over England at Wembley in March and was instrumental in the team’s memorable wins over Germany and Spain during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Japan were also dealt another setback with the omission of Monaco forward Takumi Minamino, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee in late December. Despite those absences, Moriyasu retained faith in several experienced players, including Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was included despite not having represented Japan since June 2024 because of recurring injury problems. Midfield leader Wataru Endo, attacker Daichi Kamada and playmaker Takefusa Kubo were also named in the 26-man squad.

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Japan have been drawn in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. Their campaign begins against the Dutch in Arlington, Texas, on June 14, in what is expected to be one of the group’s most demanding fixtures. The Japanese side will look to balance experienced international players with emerging talent as they attempt to navigate a competitive group stage and improve on previous World Cup performances.

Among the younger names included in the squad is Wolfsburg forward Kento Shiogai, who earned his first international cap during Japan’s 1-0 victory over Scotland in Glasgow in March. The squad also features veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, alongside Europe-based players competing in top leagues across England, Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands.

Japan’s final squad reflects a mix of established stars and emerging prospects as Moriyasu seeks to maintain the momentum built in recent international tournaments. While injuries to key attacking players have weakened the side’s depth, the team will still rely on disciplined organization, quick transitions and technical quality to challenge some of the world’s strongest nations at the tournament.

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